List of tallest buildings in San Diego

Downtown San Diego skyline from the air in November 2008

I believe that our skyline is a collective composition of many buildings. We don't have to have one landmark like the Empire State Building or Petronas towers. I think the landmark is the entire Downtown."

— Garry Papers, manager of architecture and planning for the Center City Development Corporation^[1]

San Diego has over 150 high-rises, mainly in the downtown district. In the city, there are 32 buildings that stand taller than 300 feet (91 m). In the 1970s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began restricting downtown building height to 500 feet (152.4 m) within a 1.5 mile radius of the runway due to the proximity of the San Diego International Airport.^[1][2] The tallest building in the city is the 34-story One America Plaza, completed in 1991, which stands 500 feet (152.4 m) tall.^[3]

History

The history of skyscrapers in San Diego began with the completion of the El Cortez Hotel in 1927. The building, at a height of 310 feet (94 m), remained the tallest building in San Diego until 1963, when the Executive Complex at 350 feet (107 m) took its place. The skyscraper's height was surpassed in 1969 by the Union Bank of California Building, which stood as the tallest building for two decades with its height of 388 feet (118 m). In 1989, with a height of 499 feet (152 m), Symphony Towers gained the title, before being passed two years later by One America Plaza. During the 1990s, the city was compared to a "handful of tools in a scarcely stocked toolbox" and a "mouth with a lot of missing teeth".^[1] Development in the late 1990s and 2000s led to many new high-rises, mainly residential skyscrapers.^[1] Many of these new residential buildings are pairs of twin towers.

As of October 2014, San Diego is ranked 90th in the world and 3rd in California with its 152 high-rises.^[4] However, due to the FAA height restriction, none of San Diego's buildings are within the top 100 tallest buildings in the United States. As of October 2014, there are around 10 buildings that have been proposed, approved, or are currently undergoing construction which will join the tallest buildings in San Diego (over 300 feet).^[5][6]

San Diego skyline in April 2009

Tallest buildings

This lists ranks San Diego skyscrapers that stand at least 300 feet (91 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed.

Rank	Name	Image	Height feet (m)	Floors	Year	Coordinates	Notes
1	One America Plaza		500 (152)	34	1991	32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W	Tallest building in the city; tallest building constructed in the 1990s; tallest building in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco [3][7]
2	Symphony Towers		499 (152)	34	1989	32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W	Tallest building constructed in the 1980s[8][9]
3	Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel		497 (151)	40	1992	32°42′34″N 117°10′4″W / 32.70944°N 117.16778°W	Tallest building on the waterfront on the West Coast[10][11]
4	Pinnacle on the Park		479 (146)	45	2015	32°42′35″N 117°09′03″W / 32.70972°N 117.15083°W	Tallest residential tower in San Diego[12]
5	Electra		475 (145)	43	2007	32°42′53″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71472°N 117.16944°W	[13][14]
6	Emerald Plaza		450 (137)	30	1990	32°42′58″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71611°N 117.16694°W	[15][16]
7	Pinnacle Marina Tower		450 (137)	36	2005	32°42′39″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71083°N 117.16500°W	[17][18]
8	Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport		446 (136)	34	2003	32°42′37″N 117°10′6″W / 32.71028°N 117.16833°W	[19][20]
9	Harbor Club West		424 (129)	41	1992	32°42′32″N 117°9′46″W / 32.70889°N 117.16278°W	[21][22]
10	Harbor Club East		424 (129)	41	1992	32°42′31″N 117°9′44″W / 32.70861°N 117.16222°W	[23][24]
11	The Grande South at Santa Fe Place		420 (128)	39	2004	32°43′2″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71722°N 117.17028°W	[25][26]
12	The Grande North at Santa Fe Place		420 (128)	39	2005	32°43′5″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71806°N 117.17028°W	[27][28]
13	Vantage Pointe Condominium		420 (128)	41	2009	32°43′6″N 117°9′21″W / 32.71833°N 117.15583°W	[29][30]
14	Advanced Equities Plaza		412 (126)	23	2005	32°42′55″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71528°N 117.16861°W	[31][32]
15	Bayside at the Embarcadero		395 (120)	36	2009	32°43′9″N 117°10′14″W / 32.71917°N 117.17056°W	[33][34]
16	Union Bank of California Building		388 (118)	27	1969	32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W	Tallest building constructed in the 1960s[35][36]
17	Hilton San Diego Bayfront		385 (117)	32	2008	32°42′11″N 117°9′31″W / 32.70306°N 117.15861°W	[37][38]
18	The Mark		381 (116)	33	2007	32°42′40″N 117°9′25″W / 32.71111°N 117.15694°W	[39][40]
19	Sapphire Tower		380 (116)	32	2008	32°43′6″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71833°N 117.16944°W	[41][42]
20	One Columbia Place		379 (116)	27	1982	32°43′5″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71806°N 117.16694°W	[43][44]
21	Omni San Diego Hotel		375 (114)	34	2004	32°42′24″N 117°9′32″W / 32.70667°N 117.15889°W	[45][46][47]
22	Meridian Condominiums		371 (113)	28	1985	32°42′47″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71306°N 117.16500°W	[48][49]
23	Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower I		361 (110)	24	1987	32°42′28″N 117°9′54″W / 32.70778°N 117.16500°W	[50][51]
24	Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower II		361 (110)	24	1987	32°42′30″N 117°9′57″W / 32.70833°N 117.16583°W	[52][53]
25	Imperial Bank Tower		355 (108)	24	1982	32°43′2″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71722°N 117.15778°W	[54][55]
26	Executive Complex		350 (107)	25	1963	32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W	[56][57]
27	AT&T Building		348 (106)	20	1982	32°42′54″N 117°9′51″W / 32.71500°N 117.16417°W	[58][59]
28	Comerica Bank Building		339 (103)	23	1974	32°43′5″N 117°9′31″W / 32.71806°N 117.15861°W	Tallest building constructed in the 1970s[60][61]
29	U.S. Federal Courthouse		333 (101)	16	2012	32°42′54″N 117°9′57″W / 32.71500°N 117.16583°W	[62][63]
30	Wells Fargo Plaza		331 (101)	23	1984	32°43′2″N 117°9′38″W / 32.71722°N 117.16056°W	[64][65]
31	El Cortez		310 (94)	16	1927	32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W	Tallest building in San Diego until 1963[66][67]
32	NBC Building		306 (93)	22	1975	32°42′54″N 117°9′44″W / 32.71500°N 117.16222°W	[68][69]

Tallest under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in San Diego and are planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 m). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.

Name	Image	Height feet (m)	Floors	Year	Coordinates	Notes
Pacific Gate by Bosa		450 (137)	41	2017	32°47′54″N 117°9′44″W / 32.79833°N 117.16222°W	[70]
San Diego Central Courthouse		403 (123)	22	2017	32°43′2″N 117°9′58″W / 32.71722°N 117.16611°W	[71]
Ballpark Village		402 (123)	36	2018		[72]
Kettner & Ash		414 (126)	36	2018	32°43′10″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71944°N 117.16944°W	[73][74]

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in San Diego (at least 300 feet (91 m) tall) as well as the current tallest building, One America Plaza.

Name	Image	Height ft (m)	Floors	Years as tallest	Coordinates	Reference
El Cortez Hotel		310 (94)	16	1927–1963	32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W	[66][67]
Executive Complex		350 (107)	25	1963–1969	32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W	[56][57]
Union Bank of California Building		388 (118)	27	1969–1989	32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W	[35][36]
Symphony Towers		499 (152)	34	1989–1991	32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W	[8][9]
One America Plaza		500 (152)	34	1991–present	32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W	[3][7]

References

General

• "San Diego". Emporis.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
• "San Diego". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.

Specific

1. Bergman, Heather (June 27, 2005). "San Diego's skyline grows up: residential towers filling some of the missing 'tools' as office projects are nearing completion". San Diego Business Journal. TheFreeLibrary.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
2. "Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for San Diego International Airport" (PDF). San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. October 4, 2004. pp. 51–52. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
3. "One America Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
4. "Cities: High Rises". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
5. "San Diego: Construction". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
6. "San Diego: Proposed". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
7. "One America Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
8. "Symphony Towers". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
9. "Symphony Towers". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
10. "Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
11. "Manchester Grand Hyatt". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
12. "15th and Island Tower 1". skyscraperpage. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
13. "Electra". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
14. "Electra". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
15. "Emerald Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
16. "Emerald Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
17. "The Pinnacle Marina Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
18. "Pinnacle Marina Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
19. "Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
20. "Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
21. "Harbor Club West". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
22. "Harbor Club West". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
23. "Harbor Club East". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
24. "Harbor Club East". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
25. "The Grande South at Santa Fe Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
26. "The Grande South at Santa Fe Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
27. "The Grande North at Santa Fe Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
28. "The Grande North at Santa Fe Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
29. "Vantage Pointe Condominium". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
30. "Vantage Pointe Condominium". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
31. "Advanced Equities Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
32. "Broadway 655". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
33. "Pacific Highway @ Ash Condominium". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
34. "Bayside at the Embarcadero". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
35. "Union Bank of California Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
36. "Union Bank of California Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
37. "Hilton San Diego Bayfront". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
38. "Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
39. "The Mark". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
40. "The Mark". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
41. "Sapphire Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
42. "Sapphire Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
43. "First National Bank Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
44. "First National Bank Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
45. "Omni San Diego Hotel Opens in San Diego's Newly Revitalized Gaslamp Quarter". Omni Hotels. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
46. "Omni San Diego Hotel and The Metropolitan". Emporis.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
47. "Omni Hotel". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
48. "Meridian Condominiums". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
49. "Meridian Condominiums". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
50. "Marriott Marina South Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
51. "San Diego Marriott Hotel &Marina Tower 1". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
52. "Marriott Marina North Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
53. "San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina Tower 2". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
54. "Imperial Bank Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
55. "Imperial Bank Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
56. "Executive Complex". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
57. "Executive Complex". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
58. "AT&T Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
59. "101 West Broadway". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
60. "Comerica Bank Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
61. "Comerica Bank Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
62. "U.S. Federal Courthouse". Emporis.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
63. "U.S. Federal Courthouse". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
64. "Wells Fargo Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
65. "Wells Fargo Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
66. "El Cortez Hotel". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
67. "El Cortez". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
68. "225 Broadway". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
69. "NBC Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
70. "Pacific Gate, San Diego - SkyscraperPage.com". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
71. "San Diego Central Courthouse - The Skyscraper Center". skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
72. "Ballpark Village, San Diego - SkyscraperPage.com". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
73. "Bosa digging for 2nd tower". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
74. "Kettner & Ash, San Diego - SkyscraperPage.com". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.

External links

• Diagram of San Diego skyscrapers on SkyscraperPage.com